Effect of high residual sodium carbonat (RSC) water and amendments on soil properties under rice-mustard (Brassica juncea ‘Khanpur Raya’) rotation

Abstract

A trial was designed to study the deleterious effect of high RSC water on soil properties under rice-mustard crop rotation. Treatments included were; T1: High RSC water, T2: Gypsum on the basis of RSC of water, T3: H2SO4 on the basis of RSC of water, T4: Green Manuring with Guar, T5: FYM at the rate of 10 t. ha-1. For irrigation tube well water having (EC 1.37 dS m-1, SAR 8.40 (mmol L-1)1/2 and RSC 7.85 me L-1) was used. The results revealed that lowest paddy (2.22 t ha−1) and grain yield (1.00 t ha−1) of rice and mustard were recorded when irrigated with high RSC water. In case of soil analysis, long-term use of high RSC water induces secondary salinity by increasing pH (1.92%), EC (5.73%) and SAR (35.71%) over their initial values. Harmful effects of high RSC water were thwarted by all the treatments; however, positive effects of gypsum were more visible that increased crop growth and grain yield of rice-mustard crops by promoting soil properties. Gypsum recorded the highest paddy and grain yield (3.66 t ha−1, 1.70 t ha−1) of rice and mustard crop and decreased soil pHs (4.98%), ECe (29.93%) and SAR (54.54%) over their initial values.

Keywords

• Residual sodium carbonate, rice, mustard, salinity, sodic water, gypsum, sulfuric acid, guar